Box



y 1950 E. J. NUGENT 2,514,587

BOX

Filed Jan. 18, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 F1 '1 23 2 2g 23 W W 9 l3 7 x7 a u J\ a f p-J INVENTOR. EUGENE J. NUGENT HIS ATTORNEY July 950 E. J. NUGENT 2,514,537

- BOX Filed Jan. 18, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 JNVENTOR.

EUGENE J. NUGENT HIS ATTORNEY 1950 E. J. NUGENT 2,514,587

Box

Filed Jan. 18, 1945 4 Shee'ts-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. EUGENE J. NUGENT haw HIS ATTORNEY.

y 1950 E. J. NUGENT 2,514,587

j Box Filed Jan. 18, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet'4 INVENTOR. EUGENE J. NUGENT HIS ATTORNEY.

Patented July 11, 1950 BOX Eugene J. Nugent, Seattle, Wash., assignor to California Container Corporation, Emeryville, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Application January 18, 1945, Serial No. 573,365

Claims. (Cl. 229-31) My invention relates in general to boxes, and more particularly to boxes and box components, of foldable material such as corrugated cardboard etc.

Among the objects of my invention are:

(1) To provide a novel and improved box of folclable material;

(2) To provide a novel and improved box component of foldable material having a high degree of weight-sustaining reinforcement, formed integrally from the box blank and requiring no metallic fastening means such as clips or staples;

(3) To provide a novel and improved box component of foldable material having its end walls and adjacent portions of it side walls reinforced to sustain heavy stacking loads;

(4) To provide a novel and improved box of foldable material which automatically distributes stacking loads to reinforced ends of the box;

(5) To provide a novel and improved box of foldable material which when stacked, forms ventilating passages around the individual boxes;

(6) To provide a novel and improved box of foldable material which lends itself admirably to the refrigeration of perishable goods in storage or in transit;

(7) To provide a novel and improved box component having leak-proof corners;

(8) To provide a novel and improved box blank of foldable material capable of being folded into a self-sustaining box component;

(9) To provide a novel and improved box blank of foldable material capable of being folded into a self-sustaining box component having reinforced ends;

(10) To provide a novel and improved box blank involving no waste of material in the preparation thereof.

Additional objects of my invention will be brought out in the following description of two embodiments of the same, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure l is a view illustrating a box blank from which one embodiment of my invention may be formed;

Figure 2 is a view, in perspectiva'showing such blank in the initial stages of being folded to form a box component;

Figure 3 is a view, in isometric, showing one end of a box component within the last step of being completed;

Figure 4 is a View, in isometric, showing an assembled box component of my invention with random portions of one corner of the assembly removed to expose the relationship of the folded components;

Figure 5 is a view, in isometric, of an assembled box of my invention with random portions of one corner of the assembly removed to expose the relationship of the folded components;

Figure 6 is a view, in isometric, showing a modifled blank in the initial stages of being folded to form a second embodiment of my invention;

Figure '7 is a view, in isometric, showing one end of a box component incompletely assembled from the blank of Figure 6 and within the last step of being completed;

Figure 8 is a view, in elevation, illustrating boxes of my invention in stacked relationship to each other.

.Referring to the drawings for a comprehensive description of my invention, the blank of Figure 1 is of rectangular shape, traversed laterally by a. pair of score lines 3 dividing the blank roughly into three portions, for example, a central portion 5, and two similar end portions 1. Each end portion, in turn, is traversed by at least three score lines, 9, H and i3, running parallel to the first score line 3 and spaced therefrom and from each other, such that the distance between the first and second score lines 3 and 9 in each end portion is approximately equal to and preferably slightly less than that between the second and third score lines 9 and H, while the distance between the third and fourth score lines I l and i3 is approximately equal to the distance between the fourth score line l3 and the edge of the blank.

Longitudinally of the blank and extending from the third score line H of one end portion to the corresponding third score line in the other end portion, I provide a pair of score lines l5, each preferably spaced from a longitudinal edge of the blank, a distance approximately equal to that between the third and fourth score lines it and I3 in each end portion. From each end of the longitudinal score lines I5, and forming continuations thereof to the end edges of the blank, I provide cuts IT.

The aforementioned score lines and cuts in the blank define a center or bottom section IS, a pair of side wall sections 2|, and end wall forming components 23 at each end of the blank including an end wall section 25 foldable along the score line I3 and flanked on each side by an end wall tab 21.

The end wall forming component 23 in each end portion 1 of the blank is spaced from the central portion 5 by a fold section 28, which by reason of score lines I5, is divided up into end components 29 and an intermediate component 3|, both traversed by the score line 9.

In assembling the aforementioned blank to form a box component 32, the fold sections 28 are folded in under the bottom section l9 and side wall sections 2! as shown in Figure 2, following which, the side wall sections along with the fold section end components 29 are turned up to form the side walls 2| and bottom IQ of the box component, with a reinforcing fold 28' hugging the side walls and bottom, at each end and including side wall reinforcing components 23' and a bot-.

tom reinforcing component 3|.

The end wall tabs 21 are then turned in toward each other in overlapping relationship and the box component finished off by folding each end wall section 25 over its associated end wall tabs, to form a composite end wall 33. The hugging effect of the reinforcing folds 28' tends to buckle the bottom very slightly at each end and draw the ends of the side walls toward each other to an almost imperceptible degree, though sufficient to necessitate a forceful pressing of each end wall section 25 down in between the side walls 2 l to complete the composite end walls 33.

The inside half of each end wall section 25 may be forced back sufficiently to lock in behind the end edges of the side walls 2! as illustrated in Figure 4, or it may be left at some intermediate position in tight frictional engagement with the side walls, and such frictional engagement then relied on to hold the end wall in assembly. In the latter case, an advantageous cushioning effect may be realized, which for some types of commodities, is desirable.

The frictional engagement of the inside half of each end wall section 25 may be increased by locating the cuts I! of the blank, in alignment with the outside edges of the longitudinal score lines l5 which would leave the foldable end wall section 25 of slightly greater width than the section would otherwise be.

In Figures 6 and 7 of the drawings, I have disclosed a second embodiment of my invention, which in certain respects con be considered my preferred form. Structural details of the blank corresponding to but differing slightly from similar details of the first embodiment, bear similar reference numerals to which primes have been added.

The blank for this embodiment is similar to that of Figure 1, diii'ering therefrom in the scoring and cutting of the end portions 23. The longitudinal score lines I5 traverse the full length of the blank, while the last score line l3 in each end portion of the blank, extends between the longitudinal score lines 15 only, and at each end then changes into a cut 35. This out forms a free tab 31, and defines an edge of a fold-in section 39 which is bounded on its opposite edge by a fold section end component 23. Each of these fold-in sections is traversed diagonally by a score line 6! from the corner determined by the cut and the intercepted longitudinal edge of the blank.

In assembling this modified blank to form a box component, the fold section 28 in each end portion is first folded under, and the side wall sections 2! and fold section end components 29 turned up as in the previous embodiment. At this point in the assembling procedure, the end wall section 25 is in effect hinged along an edge of the bottom l9 and connected to the side walls by the associated fold-in sections 39. In completing the assembling of the box component, the free tabs 31 are turned in against the end wall section 25 and the fold-in sections 39 are folded lowing which, the end wall section 28 is folded over, carrying the inwardly turned tabs 31 into the box component to constitute part of a composite end wall 43.

This latter embodiment, due to the design of the blank from which it is formed, results in a box component having leak-proof corners, and by reason of the fold-in sections, a very powerful resistance is ofiered against any force tending to spread the side walls.

The end wall sections serve in their folded over condition, to hold these fold-in sections in their most folded" position, that is with their respective triangular halves in surface contact with one another, in which position, the resistance to spreading of the sidewalls is maximum.

Mention has been made of the reinforcing fold 28 hugging the side walls and bottom at each end of the box component. This feature appears in both embodiments of my invention as previously described. In conjunction with the composite end walls 33, which of themselves offer considerable weight-sustaining ability, the reinforcing components 29' impart to the ends of the box component, the ability to sustain heavy stacking loads, and when a pair of components, one functioning as a tray and the other as a cover, are assembled to form a box, the ability to withstand loads becomes twice as great.

In this connection, it is noted that each reinforcing fold 28', where it crosses the bottom of each box component-to provide the reinforcing component 3i, acts as a spacer, and stacking loads, therefore, will automatically be distributed equally to the reinforced ends of the box, with none of the load being applied to the weaker center portion of the box, where damage to the box and contents might otherwise result.

Aside from the weight-sustaining ability imparted to the box, the same folds function to create horizontal ventilating passages 45 between individual boxes in a stack, and when stacks are disposed adjacent one another, these same folds, due to the side wall reinforcing components 23'. will act as spacers between stacks to create vertical ventilating passages interconnecting the many horizontal passages.

Thus the box, because of this feature and its ability to bear heavy stacking loads, lends itself admirably to the refrigeration of perishable commodities in storage or in transit. Its ability to withstand heaving loads, furthermore, enables one to utilize storage space most economically, as the height to which the stacks may be built is nov troublesome factor.

It is thus apparent that the box of my invention fulfills all the objects previously set forth, and while I have disclosed but two embodiments thereof in detail, it is apparent that the same is subject to modification or alteration without departing from the underlying principles embodied therein. I accordingly do not desire to be limited in my protection to the specific details set forth, except as may be called for by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A box component of foldable material comprising a bottom and side walls, and end walls each including a, folded end wall section and means connecting the ends of said side walls to adjacent edges of said folded end wall section, said means including fold-in sections enclosed within said folded end wall section.

2. A box blank comprising a rectangular sheet inwardly along the diagonal score lines 4|, fol- 1| of foldable material traversed longitudinally by a pair of score lines, and transversely by a pair of score lines dividing the sheet into end portions and a central portion and defining with the longitudinal score lines in said central portion, a bottom section and side wall section; and a plurality of score lines in each of said end portions transverse to and defining with said longitudinal score lines, a foldable end wall section and a fold section of two substantially equal parts connecting said foldable end wall section along one of said equal parts with said bottom and side wall sections, and,a tab adjacent each side of said foldable end wall section and adapted to be enclosed between the parts of said foldable end wall section in forming a box from said blank.

3. A box component of foldable material comprising a bottom and side walls, and end walls each including a folded end wall section and means connecting the ends of said side walls to adjacent edges of said folded-over end wall section, said means including fold-in sectionsenclosed within said folded end wall section and filling the gap between the ends of saidside walls and adjacent edges of said folded end wall section to provide leak-proof corners.

4. A box blank comprising a rectangular sheet of foldable material traversed longitudinally by a pair of score lines, and transversely by a pair of score lines dividing the sheet into end portions and a central portion and defining with the longitudinal score lines in said central portion, a

bottom section and side wall section; and a 1 plurality of score lines in each of said end portions transverse to and defining with said longitudinal score lines, a foldable end wall section and a fold section connecting said foldable end wall section with said bottom and side wall sections; a tab extending from each side of said foldable end wall section, determined by a cut from said foldable end wall section to and intercepting a longitudinal edge of said rectangular sheet, and a fold-in section between each such cut and said fold section.

5. A box component of foldable material comprising a bottom and side walls, a, fold integral with and extending around said bottom and side walls at each end and forming a part thereof, end walls each including a, folded end wall section hingedly secured to said foldialong the edge of said bottom, and means connecting the side wall edges of said folds to adjacent edges of said folded-over end wall sections, said means including fold-in-sections enclosed within said folded end wall sections.

" EUGENE J. NUGENT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the f.le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

